Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam XX post Octavam Pentecostes – V Octobris (IV Classis)
Readings:
📖 Epistle: Ephesians 5:15–21
📖 Gospel: John 4:46–53
The sacred liturgy today, in the quietness of a feria quarta classis, continues to nourish the faithful with sober and luminous truths, drawing from the depths of St. Paul’s exhortations to the Ephesians and the gentle yet firm mercy of Christ in the healing of the nobleman’s son. In these readings, the Church invites us to consider two foundational virtues in the Christian life: wisdom and faith.
🕯️ “See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise, but as wise…”
(Eph 5:15)
St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, exhorts the Ephesians to a life of deliberate wisdom. His words come to us today with renewed urgency: redeeming the time, for the days are evil. The Latin Vulgate renders this forcefully: Redimentes tempus, quoniam dies mali sunt. The saint is not merely speaking of avoiding foolish behavior, but of cultivating a deep spiritual prudence—a virtue especially praised by the Fathers.
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, emphasizes that to walk wisely is to walk in the fear of God and in constant recollection of divine truths. He writes:
“Not in idleness or vain talking or deeds of darkness must we spend our days, but let each hour be dedicated to some good purpose, for time is a precious gift.”
(Homilies on Ephesians)
In our own age, as in St. Paul’s, the days are indeed evil—not because of mere societal unrest or moral decay, but because the soul that does not remain vigilant is easily lulled into spiritual sloth. The Church, through her liturgy, keeps the lamps of wisdom burning: calling us to prayer, to thanksgiving, to psalms and hymns—not just for our edification, but to remain awake in Christ.
🌿 “Go thy way, thy son liveth.”
(John 4:50)
In the Gospel, Our Lord meets the nobleman at the edge of desperate hope. This man, a court official, likely accustomed to authority and action, finds himself powerless before the sickness of his child. He seeks Jesus—not with a clear understanding, but with the beginnings of faith.
St. Augustine remarks on this miracle with characteristic insight:
“The nobleman sought Jesus that He might come down and heal his son; he had little faith. Jesus rebuked the weakness of his faith, yet did not deny him the grace. The man believed the word, and in that belief his faith grew.”
(Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tract. XVI)
There is something deeply beautiful in this gradual strengthening of faith. The nobleman, initially believing only in Christ’s physical presence to heal, ends by believing in His word alone. “And the man believed the word that Jesus said to him.” Faith, thus, moves from sight to hearing, from flesh to spirit. The Church Fathers see in this healing a model of the interior journey of every soul—from doubt or weakness, to trust in the invisible power of the Word.
This also echoes St. Paul’s own teaching in Romans 10:17: “Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.” The nobleman’s path is the Church’s path—the believer’s journey through grace.
🔔 A Liturgical Meditation
On this weekday of the 20th week after Pentecost, the Church calls us in her collect and antiphons to renew our walk with Christ in wisdom and in faith. The sacred texts join harmoniously: one exhorts us to live wisely, redeeming the time; the other calls us to deeper trust in the divine Word.
Both readings culminate in thanksgiving. In the Epistle, we are told: “Giving thanks always for all things…”, while in the Gospel, the nobleman and his entire house come to believe—a conversion likely followed, we may assume, by profound gratitude and changed lives.
Let us then, in the spirit of this feria, turn to Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom and Mother of Faith, and ask her to intercede for us—that we too might walk wisely, redeem the days in holy living, and believe the word of Christ, even when the path is veiled.
🕊️ Prayer to End the Day
(Inspired by today’s readings and the teachings of the Fathers)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Word made Flesh, strengthen our faith, that we may believe Your word even when signs are withheld. Grant us, through the intercession of Your most holy Mother, to walk as children of the light, wisely and soberly, offering songs of praise and thanksgiving at all hours. Deliver us from the folly of this world and fill us with the spirit of wisdom. We ask this in union with all the saints, and in the power of Thy Most Precious Blood. Amen.